NEW ORLEANS, La. - Antoinette Lewis has been named the Sun Belt Women's Basketball Player of the week for December 11th. It is the second consecutive week the sophomore forward from Memphis, Tenn. has been honored with the award. Lewis shot 63 percent from the field and averaged 17.5 points and seven rebounds per game in the University of South Alabama women's basketball team's two wins this week. 

Lewis was a driving force down low as the Jags continued their unbeaten start to the season. On Wednesday afternoon, Lewis helped lead the Jags to a 72-67 non-conference road win over the University of Alabama. It marked the first time South went into Tuscaloosa and left with a win in the programs history. It was also the Jags first road win over a SEC foe since 1986. Lewis narrowly missed her third double-double of the season as she dropped 14 points and picked up nine rebounds in the contest. 

The Jags returned home to the Mitchell Center for a Sunday afternoon game with Alabama State. After a third quarter comeback by the Lady Hornets, Lewis showed her strength and shot 6-6 from the floor to pick up 19 of her 21 points in the fourth quarter. She led the Jags in scoring and picked up five rebounds in the 77-65 win. 

Lewis is the lone Jaguar to start all eight games for South this season and has been a major factor in the team's 8-0 start to the season. As of December 10th, Lewis ranks third among all of division one NCAA players with a .746 field-goal percentage, while leading the Jags in scoring and rebounding this season, averaging 14.4 points and 8.3 rebounds respectively. 

THEY SAID IT
Head coach Terry Fowler

On Lewis' presence down low: "'Nette, has really solidified that position with her low-post game. She has made teams pick their poison; if they play her one-on-one she has been really effective there. If they come with double teams it frees up our shooters on the perimeter, so it gives us great balance."

On her fourth quarter performance against Alabama State: "She really put us on her back; and said come on, give me the ball. She was either scoring, getting fouled, or both. Really just played with a lot of emotion in that quarter. Excited for her from the standpoint that she was not going to let us lose." 

Up next: South Alabama stays home to take on Faulkner on December, 17. Tip off versus the Eagles is set for 7 p.m. at the Mitchell Center.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

Join the South Circle, the unrestricted giving option of the University of South Alabama Athletics. Contributions to South Circle directly support all 17 sports in addition to various support programming. For more information on how you can join visit: http://jaguarathleticfund.com/give


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